US President Barack Obama Barack Obama once again signs a presidential order to extend for another year American sanctions, dating back to 1995, against Iran, as he considers the Iranian government a threat to US national security, foreign policy and economy. “Because the actions and policies of the government of Iran continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security,... 

The Chairman of the Thai-Iranian Business Council criticizes the US for leading a sanctions regime against Iran, saying it is harming ordinary financial enterprises in Thailand. Anirut Samutkochorn said not only would the Western sanctions against Tehran ultimately fail but they would also backfire, The Bangkok Post reported on Sunday. Anirut, who is involved in numerous businesses with Iran, demanded... 

President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus The Belarusian president made this shocking statement in response to German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle’s report that Berlin is recalling its ambassador from Minsk. Lukashenko lashed out at the European Union in general and at Westerwelle in particular after the EU imposed new sanctions against a number of Belarusian government officials. “It is... 

Iran’s oil embargo on Britain has already driven price of petrol and diesel to an all-time high while the British foreign secretary denies any impact on Britain’s energy security. The Daily Mail reported on Tuesday that the price of diesel rose to 143.16p per liter while the price of crude oil continues to soar following Iran’s decision to stop oil exports to British and French companies. The... 

Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko. Stricter European sanctions against Belarus will be powerless, says the country’s president Aleksandr Lukashenko. “Please understand that it’s only for the time being that we are tolerating the sanctions you are threatening us with. But as soon as you cross the red line, we’ll respond tough,” the Belarusian leader said on Monday, accepting credentials... 

IIPA want sanctions against Canada, Russia, Switzerland and others for weal IP laws The raid that ravaged Megaupload was just the start. A powerful trade group that lists the biggest names in the entertainment biz as its members has called-out dozens of countries in their latest report and is insisting on sanctions against them. The International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA) has submitted... 

Iran is ready to complete and inaugurate the proposed Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project ahead of the due date, the vice president for international affairs said in Islamabad today. In a meeting with Pakistani finance officials, Ali Saeedlou said that Iran is prepared to help Pakistan establish the pipeline ahead of the date the two sides have agreed upon, IRNA news agency reported. Despite the threat... 

The EU will immediately ban new oil deals with Iran and implement a total boycott of Iranian oil in July 2012, under sanctions discussed by the 27 Foreign Ministers today. Sanctions could also target the activities of a number of Iranian companies, individuals and financial institutions, including the country’s central bank. British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the measure was part of... 

Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul A US Republican presidential candidate has reproached Washington’s policy toward Iran, saying more sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear program is a mistake. Ron Paul added, Iran is not a threat to the United States. The Texas congressman opposed the bill passed by the House Foreign Affairs Committee last week that would toughen sanctions against... 

Anger: Susan Rice, US Ambassador to the UN, walked out of a security council meeting after Russia and China vetoed a resolution on Syria America’s ambassador to the U.N. stormed out of a security council meeting after China and Russia vetoed a resolution condemning Syria’s crackdown on anti-government protests. Furious Susan Rice claimed Washington was ‘outraged’ by opposition... 

Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin Russia and China have vetoed a Western-backed United Nations Security Council resolution threatening military action and sanctions against Syria. On Tuesday, nine countries voted for the text drawn up by France, Britain, Germany and Portugal, but Russia and China voted against, killing the resolution because of their veto power as permanent members of Security... 

The British and French governments want more UN sanctions against Libya but are being blocked by China, Russia and India. Sky News sources in New York say that among a range of extra measures sought is a proposal to add Libyan state TV to the list of Libyan companies with which it would become illegal to do business. The two governments argue that state TV is aiding the Gaddafi war aims by broadcasting... 

Protesters shout slogans against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi during a demonstartion at court square, in Benghazi, Libya, on Friday. After days of prevarication through the peak of the Libyan crisis, the United States government finally moved on Friday evening to impose unilateral sanctions against the regime of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. The Obama administration’s latest move came even as the... 

Fears are growing that the authorities may try to take the young son of Andrei Sannikov, one of the country's leading opposition leaders, into care. Belarus will be issued an ultimatum on Wednesday by the EU to immediately release political prisoners or face unprecedented sanctions. Sergei Martynov, Belarus’s foreign minister, will be told that the EU expects “the immediate release... 

A group of former European leaders have called for tough sanctions against Israel in response to Tel Aviv’s failure to stop settlement expansion on occupied Palestinian land. Criticizing the European Union’s existing policy toward Israel, in a letter sent to European governments and EU institutions on Monday, former heads of states, ministers and heads of European organizations said Israel...